South African football powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns are set to meet Espérance de Tunis in the first leg of their CAF Champions League quarter-final.
Indeed, both outfits are renowned for their success in African football, bring rich legacies to this highly anticipated clash.
Currently leading the Betway Premiership, Sundowns will face Tunisia’s Ligue Professionnelle 1 leaders, Espérance. The teams have both recently lifted the CAF Champions League trophy—Sundowns in 2016 and Espérance in 2019, having also triumphed in 1994, 2011, and 2018.
Sundowns reached the quarter-finals by securing second place in Group B, finishing behind AS FAR and above Raja Casablanca and Maniema Union. Espérance topped Group D, outpacing Pyramids, Sagrada Esperança, and Djoliba. For Sundowns, this match is a chance to avenge their semi-final exit last season, when Espérance triumphed 2-0 on aggregate.
New Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso faces a challenging start, as key players like Themba Zwane, Mothobi Mvala, Aubrey Modiba, Lebo Mothiba, Rivaldo Coetzee, and Siyabonga Mabena are sidelined due to injuries. Adding to the intrigue, Cardoso will be up against Espérance, his former club.
Kick off is scheduled for 15:00 on April 1, 2025, at Loftus Versfeld, promising an exciting battle as these African football heavyweights vie for continental glory.